Heat Pump Installation Luton: MCS Certified

Luton's large stock of semi-detached homes is a good match for air source heat pumps. Most have a side or back garden for the outdoor unit, cavity walls that can be insulated, and an airing cupboard for a hot water cylinder.

The Boiler Upgrade Scheme pays £7,500 towards the cost, with no income test. Only an MCS certified installer can claim it, and they do the paperwork for you.

Luton at a glance

How homes are heated: 75.1% of Luton households heat with mains gas only and 11.5% with electricity only. 1.8% (1,453 homes) have no central heating, against 1.5% in England. Only 57 homes use oil alone. Source
Semis dominate: 40.3% of Luton households live in a semi-detached house, against 31.5% in England. 22.0% live in a terrace, 20.5% in a purpose-built flat and 12.9% in a detached house. Source
Local grant: Luton is one of the councils in a Portsmouth-led Warm Homes: Local Grant consortium awarded £34,807,254. Dunstable falls under Central Bedfordshire, which has its own £1,000,000 award. Source
Energy ratings: About 50% of homes with an EPC in Luton are rated band D or below (median score 69, band C), against 47% across England. Based on certificates lodged in the 10 years to March 2025. Source

Check insulation first

A heat pump works best in a home that holds its heat. Make sure the loft and cavity walls are insulated before the survey.

Luton has had more than its share of poor insulation work under past schemes. If your walls were insulated and you now have damp, report it to the council before adding new heating, so the fault can be fixed first.

Planning and noise

An air source heat pump on a house is normally permitted development, provided the unit is under 1.5 cubic metres, at least a metre from the boundary, and meets the MCS noise standard. On semis, the side wall is often the best spot, away from neighbours' bedroom windows.

For landlords

With 29% of Luton households renting privately, landlords have a big role. A heat pump can lift a property's EPC rating, and the Boiler Upgrade Scheme is open to landlords as well as owner-occupiers. Explain to tenants how the system works; it runs best left on steadily rather than switched on and off.

Local grants

Luton is part of a large Warm Homes: Local Grant consortium led by Portsmouth City Council. Eligible low-income households in homes rated EPC D to G may get help with heat pumps and insulation. Check eligibility through the GOV.UK Warm Homes: Local Grant page.

Luton homes and what they need

1930s and post-war semis

Often the easiest case. Some radiators may need upsizing, and the cylinder fits where the old one was.

Victorian and Edwardian terraces near the town centre

Solid walls lose more heat. Expect bigger radiators and possibly internal insulation in the coldest rooms.

Newer estate houses

Well insulated already, so a small heat pump may do. Check covenants on your estate before choosing the unit's position.

Areas covered

Engineers who cover Luton work across areas including Stopsley, Leagrave, Limbury, Wigmore, Round Green, High Town, Bury Park, Marsh Farm, Lewsey Farm and Dunstable.

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Questions people in Luton ask

How much does a heat pump cost?

Prices vary with the home. Our heat pump cost guide uses national data on installations under the Boiler Upgrade Scheme.

Sources

Also nearby: Heat pump installation in Milton Keynes, Heat pump installation in London, Heat pump installation in Cambridge

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